It is interesting to me how many people ignore foot and ankle problems. My feet hurt. My toe looks funny. My foot doesn’t feel right. My ankle is sore. I can’t run because of foot pain. My ankle gives out. This should warrant one to suspect a problem but most turn a blind eye to their foot problems. When you have a tooth ache, you go to the dentist. When you can’t see well, you go to the eye doctor. When your child has a fever, you go to your family doctor. So, when you have foot and ankle pain, shouldn’t you see a foot and ankle doctor?
For whatever reason, people have become to believe that sore feet are a part of life. Instead of seeking medical help, we adjust our activities to avoid the pain. I can’t tell you how many people I have met that have halted their favorite hobbies because they thought they didn’t have the feet to do it anymore.
Sandy, a dear patient of mine once told me she was an avid runner in her youth, but after college she stopped running because her feet couldn’t “handle” it anymore. She never did anything about her foot pain except decreased her activities and wore “ugly shoes.” As a result of her new found sedentary lifestyle, she gained quite a bit of weight and is now suffering from type 2 diabetes. Her primary care doctor referred her to me to monitor her foot health, which now is in great jeopardy due to her diabetes. It breaks my heart that Sandy, not only gave up something she loved but also put her heath at risk because of treatable foot pain. Since Sandy’s first visit with me 1 year ago, we have eliminated her foot pain, greatly decreased her chance of diabetic foot complications, and Sandy has taken up more physical activities and lost almost 100Ib.
Just yesterday, I had a patient who recently returned from a family vacation in Walt Disney World. Jim was upset because after the first day his feet hurt so badly, he spent most of the time sitting on benches as the rest of his family toured the park. I hear similar stories all the time. He admitted to suffering from moderate heel pain prior to the trip, but had a desk job so he never noticed the pain except when he went golfing, a hobby he practically gave up because of his busy schedule. Thus, since he only rarely had foot pain, he didn’t think it was a big deal. The full day of walking through Disney World flared up his condition, and his heel pain became unbearable for the remainder of the trip. Once again this could have been prevented if he would have gone to a podiatric physician about his foot pain.
I told Jim, “If you have difficulty seeing while driving in the dark, you go to the eye doctor and get glasses even though you are not suffering from a problem all day long. If your feet hurt with activity, you should go to the foot doctor (podiatrist), and receive treatment even if your pain is not all day or every day.”
If you find yourself adjusting your daily activities or avoiding hobbies because of your feet, call your foot doctor today! No matter your age, your feet should not limit the way you live your life, but rather be walking you up and down every hill and through every garden life has to offer. Take care of your feet!
Showing posts with label fractured foot. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fractured foot. Show all posts
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Back to School Shoe Shopping
If my kid doesn’t complain about sore feet, do I need to worry about what I put on his feet? Some children spend most of their days running around the yard barefoot all day and never complain about a thing until they step on a nail or thorn. Other children will wine all day about their feet hurting. So what do you need to be looking for when you are shopping for new shoes for the new school year?
My kid never complains!
Wow! Can we trade? Alright lets be serious all kids complain but not all kids complain about their feet. It is best to actively ask the child, “Do your feet hurt? Do you feel pain in your feet when you are out playing?” Some children ignore the pain because they are having so much fun. Think about how awesome it is to be on the soccer team or play in the park with your best buddies… You wouldn’t stop unless you had to. How many kids pee in their pants because they don’t want to stop playing?
There no special accommodation, devices, or exercises that are required for healthy foot living. There is a level of common sense that needs to come into play though… for some this is difficult. Kids shoes can be trendy, inappropriate, and can lead to pain.
Stay away from the following
· Pointy toes
· Platforms
· Flip flops
· Stilettos—Teenagers love to sacrifice comfort for style!
Standard Shoes for Back-to-School
· Good Athletic Shoes (light colors are preferred for the gym and will decrease sweating)
· A wide toe box for dress shoes
My Kid Does Complain about Their Feet!
It is not uncommon for children to have foot and ankle problems. The good news is that these are highly treatable! If your child is complaining about foot pain, seeing a podiatric physician will help prevent complicated problems in your child’s future. Common problems can range from flat feet to ingrown toenails. Treatment is often non-invasive and conservative. Children can be prescribed special insoles known as orthoses and physical therapy to help strengthen the weak or ill-working muscles, joints, and ligaments. Children tend to be extremely active, so podiatric physicians can work around sport schedules and care for their feet to optimized their performance and enjoyment of their preferred after school activities.
Save your child from grandma’s bunions and dad’s recurring ankle sprains. Seek consultation on your child’s foot pain from a medical professional such as a podiatric physician. Even if your child is not experiencing pain, remember to use common sense when shopping for this year’s new shoes!
My kid never complains!
Wow! Can we trade? Alright lets be serious all kids complain but not all kids complain about their feet. It is best to actively ask the child, “Do your feet hurt? Do you feel pain in your feet when you are out playing?” Some children ignore the pain because they are having so much fun. Think about how awesome it is to be on the soccer team or play in the park with your best buddies… You wouldn’t stop unless you had to. How many kids pee in their pants because they don’t want to stop playing?
There no special accommodation, devices, or exercises that are required for healthy foot living. There is a level of common sense that needs to come into play though… for some this is difficult. Kids shoes can be trendy, inappropriate, and can lead to pain.
Stay away from the following
· Pointy toes
· Platforms
· Flip flops
· Stilettos—Teenagers love to sacrifice comfort for style!
Standard Shoes for Back-to-School
· Good Athletic Shoes (light colors are preferred for the gym and will decrease sweating)
· A wide toe box for dress shoes
My Kid Does Complain about Their Feet!
It is not uncommon for children to have foot and ankle problems. The good news is that these are highly treatable! If your child is complaining about foot pain, seeing a podiatric physician will help prevent complicated problems in your child’s future. Common problems can range from flat feet to ingrown toenails. Treatment is often non-invasive and conservative. Children can be prescribed special insoles known as orthoses and physical therapy to help strengthen the weak or ill-working muscles, joints, and ligaments. Children tend to be extremely active, so podiatric physicians can work around sport schedules and care for their feet to optimized their performance and enjoyment of their preferred after school activities.
Save your child from grandma’s bunions and dad’s recurring ankle sprains. Seek consultation on your child’s foot pain from a medical professional such as a podiatric physician. Even if your child is not experiencing pain, remember to use common sense when shopping for this year’s new shoes!
